AB 2516: Dams: reservoir restrictions.

Existing law requires the Department of Water Resources to supervise the maintenance and operation of dams and reservoirs as necessary to safeguard life and property. Existing law authorizes the department to impose reservoir restrictions and to levy property liens on an owner of a dam who fails to comply with certain provisions relating to dam safety or any approval, order, rule, regulation, or requirement of the department.

This bill would require the department to post, and update annually, on its Internet Web site a report containing the name of each reservoir subject to a restriction and the reservoirs associated downstream hazard potential classification, the effective date of the reservoir restriction, the reason for the restriction, and any actions, planned or completed, that the dam owner reports to address the restriction. The bill, if no reservoir restrictions are in effect, would require the department to post this fact on its Internet Web site.